Local

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
As debate continues about President Barack Obama’s federal health care act, staunch opponent U.S. Congressman Mick Mulvaney is defending his acceptance of federal medical coverage for himself and his family.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
A group of Lancaster residents is holding a fundraiser to help earthquake and tsunami survivors in Sendai, Japan, the hometown of 22-year-old Discovery Charter School intern Miyu Sasaki.
A rising senior at Nihon University majoring in international culture, Sasaki has been teaching Japanese language and culture at Discovery School since February.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
An Indian Land woman and a Lancaster man both died after two separate car accidents last weekend.
Daphne Harrison, 28, of Indian Land, died March 18 after her car struck a tree. Harrison was driving south on Interstate 77, about three miles from Rock Hill, when the accident happened at about 8:45 p.m. Friday.
Harrison was driving a 1998 Ford along the highway when she ran off the right side of the road and hit a tree, said Lance Cpl. Judd Jones with the S.C. Highway Patrol.

Reece Murphyrmurphy@thelancasternews.com
The S.C. Department of Transportation is set to begin roadwork on one of Indian Land’s busiest roads next week.
Lancaster County resident construction engineer Ken Wilson said S.C. DOT crews will begin repaving a half-mile stretch of Fort Mill Highway (S.C. 160) on Sunday, March 27.
The project is expected to take about a week to complete, Wilson said, with most work scheduled at night, between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
A loud car radio led to a Lancaster man being arrested on various drug and gun charges last weekend.
Derrick Antonio McIlwain, 25, 304 Robinson Road, was arrested March 19 on several charges after Lancaster police officers stopped his car at the intersection of Hampton Road and Louise Street.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
A piece of bamboo left hundreds of Lancaster County homes and businesses without power for a few hours Monday afternoon.
At about 12:30 p.m., a power surge cut service to 366 customers in the Lancaster area, said Duke Energy telephone representative Amanda Burris.

It’s a new year for the U.S. Congress and the S.C. Legislature and both have begun considering significant statewide and national issues that will impact the Lancaster County business community in both the short- and long-term future.

Lancaster County Water and Sewer District (LCWSD) officials re-emphasize that dry climatic conditions are responsible for the Catawba-Wateree Basin remaining in Stage 1 drought level of the low-inflow protocol.

The protocol is an agreement between major water users in the basin that establishes a shared responsibility and priorities to conserve the limited water supply.

Local residents will soon be able to hear from the three men hoping to become the next District 16 state senator.

Democrat Keith Brann, Republican Greg Gregory and Libertarian Stan Smith will appear at the Before You Vote candidates forum March 29 at the Bradley Arts and Science Building at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster.

There will be a meet-and-greet session at 5:30 p.m. The forum is slated to run from 6 to 8 p.m.